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The Parable of the Master and Servant is a
parable
A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, that illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, w ...
told by
Jesus
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
in the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
, found only in
Luke's Gospel
The Gospel of Luke), or simply Luke (which is also its most common form of abbreviation). tells of the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Together with the Acts of the Apostles, it makes up a two-volu ...
(). The parable teaches that when somebody "has done what God expects, he or she is only doing his or her duty."
Narrative
The parable reads as follows:
Interpretation
This parable suggests that "even the best of God's servants are still unworthy because they have only done their duty and no more."
[Mark Black, ]
Luke
', College Press, 1996, , p. 285. Nobody, "no matter how virtuous or hardworking, can ever put God in his or her debt."
[Arland J. Hultgren, ]
The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary
', Eerdmans Publishing, 2002, , p. 251.
William Barclay William Barclay may refer to:
*William Barclay (jurist) (1546–1608), Scottish jurist
*William Barclay (writer) (c. 1570–c. 1630), Scottish writer
*William Barclay (painter) (1797–1859), English miniature painter
*William Barclay (theologian) ...
William Barclay William Barclay may refer to:
*William Barclay (jurist) (1546–1608), Scottish jurist
*William Barclay (writer) (c. 1570–c. 1630), Scottish writer
*William Barclay (painter) (1797–1859), English miniature painter
*William Barclay (theologian) ...
,
The Gospel of Luke
', Westminster John Knox Press, 2001, , p. 257. relates the parable to the last verse of the
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include "When I Survey the ...
hymn "
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", was written by Isaac Watts, and published in ''Hymns and Spiritual Songs'' in 1707. It is significant for being an innovative departure from the early English hymn style of only using paraphrased bibl ...
":
Were the whole realm of Nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
The phrase "unworthy servant" in the last verse of the parable is widely used liturgically, such as in the
Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
Scottish biblical writer
William Nicoll refers to this story as "the parable of extra service".
[Nicoll, W.]
The Expositor's Greek Testament
on Luke 17, accessed 4 July 2018
See also
*
Life of Jesus in the New Testament
The life of Jesus in the New Testament is primarily outlined in the four canonical gospels, which includes his genealogy and nativity, public ministry, passion, prophecy, resurrection and ascension. Other parts of the New Testament – suc ...
*
Ministry of Jesus
The ministry of Jesus, in the canonical gospels, begins with his baptism in the countryside of Roman Judea and Transjordan, near the River Jordan by John the Baptist, and ends in Jerusalem, following the Last Supper with his disciples.''Chri ...
*
Parable of the Two Debtors
The Parable of the Two Debtors is a parable of Jesus. It appears in , where Jesus uses the parable to explain that the woman who has anointed him loves him more than his host, because she has been forgiven of greater sins.
A similar anointing in ...
*
Parable of the Faithful Servant
The Parable of the Faithful Servant (or Parable of the Door Keeper) is a parable of Jesus found in Matthew 24:42-51, Mark 13:34-37, and Luke 12:35-48 about how it is important for the faithful to keep watch.
In Matthew's Gospel, it immediately pr ...
References
{{Parables of Jesus, state=expanded
Master and Servant, Parable of the
Gospel of Luke